Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-01-01
THE oRIENrAL aEBREws.
su set Cox Gives sOme Information AbOu
ahena.


su. set Cox Gives Some Information About
ahem.
In his lecture before the Young Mems
Hebrew association, Of New York, our
late minister 70 Turkey gave the follow
ing facts concerning the Oriental He
brews:
There are no mixed marriages among
thu Hebrews Of Turkey. Divorce is &C
knOWledged as it is always acknowledged
amoag the Moslems. Governmental
authority may be called upon to execute
the sentence OF the Jewish tribunals on
matters connected with marriage and
di 7orce.
One thing has struck me as peculiar
in connection with the aspirations of the
Jews in Europe and IN the Orient.
While the Jews in Austris, Germany,
France, hungary and other parts Of
Europe have filed Offices of great trus.-
have become bankers, editors, musicians,
orators, Legislators and artists-distin-
gushing themselves before those OF
other races in the refinement and skill
with which they have elevated learning,
art and science; yet in Turkey they seem
to have no aspiration and association
With statecrart. At least, they interes
themselves very little In politics. For
reasons not necessary to state, but grow
ing out of the iberality Of her institu-
tons Of the empire, they are attached to
the Ottoman throne. They like the lib
erai ways Of the government, which are
in great contrast with the treatment of
Hebrews In Russia, ROumania and Ger
many. They are promp5 to recognize
the kindness of the Sultan, and to show
their loyalty to him. I cannot say that |
the Jews Of Turkey are the equals Or
the suTeriOrs Of the Jews OF other parts |
of Europe. There is a reason for this, I
and a sad one. They have partaken of
the general stagnation which belongs to
the Orient, owing to TIE everlasting
eastern question, which by its unrest |
has forbidden men to reach out for those /
higher aims in life which are the results |
Of stable civilization.
The Turkish language, or the Ian |
guage of the country, is not IN common |
language of the Jews. Those who inhabit |
Syria talk Arabic, and those in Macedo- |
MIA modern Greek. Among the $4,000 |
jews in Turkey, more 100000 talk a
Spanish idiom. But the grand body of |
the Jewish traders in Ccnstantinople
and elsewhere speak French. The truth is, |
that nearly all the people Of the Levart, |
including the Turks themselves, who are
perhaps more reserved on this head, |
speak many languages. 1t is one OF the
marVels of the east, and almost a matter
Of inheritance that even the vocal Or
gans OF the LeVantine seem to be read
lily attuned for the reception of many
tongues.
II
pers published In Turkey. Two Of
these appear in Hebrew; the others are
published in Spanish, but with Hebraic
characters. may say here that much
OF my information in relation to The He
brew people which have stateC comes
from the editor OF the Telegraph, at Con
stantinople. That journal takes quite
an interest in political affairs, though
under the censorship Of the government.
I need not say to the Hebrews present
that the customs OF their race in AMI
around the Turkish capital are still pa
triarchaI, ILdeed most OF the Oriental
customs connected with the family are
of that quality. The family life is al
ways exemplary. The members OF the
family are respectable, and rarely, per-
haps never, Is there to be found a Jew
ISL Spanish woman Of bad fame. They
cling with great fidelity to the religion
of their ancestors.
The Jews OF Constantinople, not be-
ing blest in worldly goods, cannot make
those offerings for the poor of their own
class, or those OF other parts Of the en-
pire, which the European and American
Jews have made with such charitable
abundance, but they still do their part
in providing for the needy and the ar
hicted
I have said that there were few
schisms, if any, in the Jewish race of
Turkey. I may modify this by stating
that the Karaites are protesting Jews. |
They do not agree with Talmad. There |
are few families OF them-hardly seven |
ty-fiVe of them in Haskeui-whO live in
a special quarter by themselves. They
are not In communication with other
Jews. In fact, they are disappearing
from one eanse or another; while the
orthodox Jew, who believes IN the Tai
mud, seems to be improving with the
lapse Of time.